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Saluda County’s 2018 Palmetto Girls State Delegates

The 72nd session of the Palmetto Girls State is set for the week of June 10 – 16, 2018 on the campus of Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. To be selected for Girls State each county reviews and sends outstanding high school junior delegates based on the following qualifications: leadership, interest in government, character, honesty, scholarship, cooperativeness, and eagerness to participate in PGS. This year Saluda County will again be well represented. Three delegates and four alternates have been chosen from Saluda High School, and one delegate and one alternate was selected from King Academy. The Saluda High delegates are: Bailey Chariker, daughter of Sheila Chariker and Ed Chariker,; Kaylyn Aliene Herlong, daughter of Jeff Herlong and Aliene Herlong; and Rachel Porter, daughter of Melissa A. Porter. The alternates are: Alexandria Nicole Addy, daughter of Dawn Bridges; Reagan Fingerlin, daughter of Trey and ‘Gina Fingerlin; Kristine Elizabeth Griffith, dauther of Jonathan P (Pat) and Jamie Wannamaker Griffith; and Kylee Howard, daughter of Alecia Howard. From King Academy the delegate is Gracelyn Metts, daughter of Bevin Metts and Alex Mitchell, daughter of Scott Mitchell is the alternate. Rachel Porter won the Americanism Essay Contest and her paper has been forwarded to the state competition. The Girls State program is one of the most vital programs for our youth as it provides young women the opportunity to learn and experience government in action. It emphasizes the democratic process and the principles of God and country. At Girls State our representatives will be challenged to return to their schools and community and exercise their leadership potentials. The Saluda American Legion Auxiliary would like to thank the following donors who helped the Auxiliary to send these delegates: Amick Farm, Buzhardt’s Tree Care, C B Forrest and Sons, Crawford’s Contracting Service, Cromley Motor Co., Hollywood Ruritan Club, Representative Cal Forrest, Senator Shane Massey, Saluda County Retired Teachers, Titan Farms, The Added Touch and other anonymous donors.

Memorial Day Service Set

United States Army Sergeant First Class (Ret) Grady Lee Clark will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Memorial Day Service presented by American Legion Post 65. Clark will speak on his first enlistment and first overseas deployment to Korea. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at the Saluda Theater on Monday, May 28 at 11 AM. It will be followed by a brief ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Monument adjacent to the Saluda County Court House. The service will be patriotic. For Clark, “patriotism is the reason we celebrate Memorial Day, because people in the past have given so much for our country. I want to do my part to make this a great country”. Sergeant First Class Clark was raised in Saluda County. He and a friend entered the Army on the “Buddy System”, as teenagers ready to see the world, at Newark, New Jersey in 1959. Clark had a number of state side assignments. From Fort Dix, New Jersey to Fort Carson, Colorado. Overseas deployments included South Korea, Germany, and Vietnam that spanned 20 years. Military awards include Good Conduct Medal 6th Award, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam National Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam National Campaign Medal, US Army Accommodation Medal, 2 Awards and Helicopter Flight Wings. Memorial Day. A federal holiday set aside as the last Monday in May to honor and remember our nfallen men and women who gave their lives that we may live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount up to and including their life. This is the day we come together as family, friends and community to remember those who cashed that check, our servicemen and servicewomen who we loved and lost. A time when veterans share what patriotism and this special day of remembrance means to them. For Clark, Memorial Day means “remembering and recognizing those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We should continue to do this every year”.